For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
November 12, 2002
Press Briefing by Scott McClellan
James S. Brady Press Briefing Room
12:32 P.M. EST
MR. MCCLELLAN: Good afternoon. Let me
run back through the
President's day. He had his usual briefings this morning. Then he
departed, earlier this morning, for the District of Columbia
Metropolitan Police Department Synchronized Operations Command Complex,
where he toured their operations. Following that he went to the old
City Council Building and he made remarks on the department of homeland
security.
To reiterate, the President believes his highest priority is the
protection of the American people, and that is why we need to move
forward as quickly as possible in this lame duck session to create a
department of homeland security. And we were encouraged by Senator
Daschle's remarks over the weekend, indicating that he wanted to see
the legislation moved forward. And so we are continuing to work with
Congress; there's tremendous progress that has been made, and we
believe we are close to reaching an agreement and moving this
legislation forward.
Later this afternoon the President will be meeting with Republican
House and Senate leaders to talk about the legislative agenda during
this -- the remainder of this session. And then, following that, he
will participate in a meeting with the United States Chamber of
Commerce Board of Directors, where he will talk about economic growth,
as well as the legislative agenda.
Then the President is scheduled to meet later with Senator Dean
Barkley, the newest member of the Congress, and participate in a
reception with newly elected members of Congress.
And with that, I'm happy to take your questions. David.
Q What are the elements of this deal that you're so close to on
work rules? Can you spell them out? And what's holding up the final
deal at this point?
MR. MCCLELLAN: Well, we continue to talk with members and some of
the leaders. But again, I think we are very close. I don't want to
get into specific discussions in the media. I think those discussions
are best had with the members. But I think you will see that we are
moving forward on a strong bill that includes the principles the
President has outlined and meets his requirements.
It's important that this bill, which will create -- be the
largest reorganization since the 1940s -- that it include giving the
President the maximum flexibility he needs to protect the American
people, and that it includes the right of the President to act in the
national security interest of the American people when he needs to.
Q Will these meetings today be strategy sessions, effectively,
on how to get the vote count, for you guys a victory?
MR. MCCLELLAN: Oh, these meetings today? No, I think these
meetings today -- obviously they'll talk about homeland security, I
believe, ut a couple of those meetings are more get-to-know-you
sessions. One of those meetings he's meeting with, as I said, the
House and Senate Republican leaders. So he will be talking about the
legislative -- he will be talking about the legislative agenda
there.
Q But do you expect -- is the President confident there will
be a vote on this by the end of the week?
MR. MCCLELLAN: Well, I don't want to put artificial time lines on
it, but we're pleased with the progress that's being made. And we're
pleased -- encouraged by the indications we've received from people
like Senator Daschle that they want to move this legislation forward
and get it done.
Q European leaders are saying that they have more evidence of
chatter of potential al Qaeda attacks that would strike a number of
sites, including the United States, at once. Does that correspond with
intelligence you're getting here? Is there more chatter?
MR. MCCLELLAN: Well, Ron, as you know, I don't -- and we don't
get into discussions of intelligence here at the podium. But we have
made it very clear that if there is information that needs to be shared
with the American people, or information that needs to be shared with
law enforcement, we will do that. And we have done that. But I don't
have any updates to report.
Q As you move toward a compromise on homeland security, is the
President ready to protect the sanctity of the civil service system and
protect the workers against arbitrary firing?
MR. MCCLELLAN: I think the President actually addressed this in
his remarks earlier today when he talked about when we're talking about
meeting the threats to our country, the threats of the 21st century,
it's important for the President to have the authority -- that it not
be taken away from -- the same authority that every President since
John F. Kennedy has had, which is to be able to waive certain rights if
it's in the interest of our national security. And that means
suspending collective bargaining, if need be.
It's also -- and I think he pointed out that the debate is often
misunderstood. The rights of federal workers should be, as he said,
and will be, fully protected in the department of homeland security.
Every employee will be treated fairly and protected from
discrimination. But it's important -- but it's important that the
President have the maximum flexibility, as well, to hire and fire, to
move people around, if it's in the interest of our national security
and protecting the American people.
Q But as the department is created, are the workers protected
to start off with? I mean, if they do something that obviously may
require a different role --
MR. MCCLELLAN: I think I just made that --
Q -- but do they have solid protections they have in any
government office?
MR. MCCLELLAN: If the President needs to act quickly and
decisively, then he needs to be able to do that. And that's why I
talked about the maximum flexibility on the first issue, when I talked
about collective bargaining. That is the authority that the President
has had ever since John F. Kennedy, and it's important that that
authority not be taken away, because when it comes to protecting the
American people, as I said, the President needs to be able to act
quickly and decisively.
Q A couple questions on Iraq. If Saddam Hussein follows his
parliament and rejects the U.N. resolution, is the President committed
to returning to the U.N. Security Council, testing international
opinion on the response, or will he just line up American forces in a
coalition and go straight to war?
MR. MCCLELLAN: Terry, I recognize there are going to be a lot of
ifs and a lot of hypotheticals that are going to be asked here, and I
don't want to speculate about every "if" or every hypothetical. I
think the President's views are very clear; the international
community's views are very clear. This is about disarmament, and this
is Saddam Hussein's final opportunity to disarm peacefully. If he does
not, we will do so by force.
As the President indicated, the United States, with our friends,
will do so forcefully and swiftly. The choice right now is Saddam
Hussein's. But again, as stated in the resolution, this is a final
opportunity for Saddam Hussein to disarm. It is his choice to
determine whether he wants to do so peacefully or if he wants to be
disarmed by force. But one thing is abundantly clear, as the President
has mentioned, he will be disarmed. And it just now comes down to a
choice of whether he wants to do it peacefully or if it's going to be
done by force.
Q And the President just said -- we're through with
negotiations, we're through with talking to him. What role does the
President envision the United Nations Security Council has?
MR. MCCLELLAN: Well, in the resolution it spells that out. But I
would make very clear, too, what you just said. No more games, no more
cheat and retreat, no more deny and deceive, no more rope-a-dope in the
desert with inspectors. No negotiation. It is now time for Saddam
Hussein to comply or face serious consequences.
But in the resolution, it clearly spells out that if there --
and the inspectors are there just to simply report the facts. It's a
Joe Friday approach, report the facts to the Security Council. Then
the Security Council will assess what consequences need to happen. But
that does not handcuff the United States in any way if the U.N. decides
not to act. The U.S., with our friends, as the President has made
clear, has the authority and will use it to disarm Saddam Hussein and
his regime if need be.
Q Fair enough. So he wasn't -- just to nail this down, he
wasn't saying, we're through with negotiations at the U.N. Security
Council, we're through with that?
MR. MCCLELLAN: Again, we'll go back for consulting and for
consultations and discussion with the Security Council when there is
another material breach reported.
Q On homeland security, what's changed about the political
climate that's allowed you to get close to a deal? Was it the
election? A month ago, you were at loggerheads over this issue.
MR. MCCLELLAN: I understand, Steve, and I think that that's
something probably that's better left for the pundits to speculate
about. But what I would reiterate is that we're pleased with the
progress that is being made. We're pleased with the willingness
expressed by leaders from Senator Lott and Speaker Hastert last week to
Senator Daschle over the weekend that they want to move forward on this
legislation as quickly as possible, and get it done. There is an
understanding on everybody's part that this is about protecting the
American people, and this is one of the most important things we can do
now to better protect the American people.
Q On that same topic, I just want to be clear. You all --
you keep referring to Daschle's comments on the Sunday talk show. Is
anybody at the White House speaking directly to Daschle?
MR. MCCLELLAN: I don't have any updates to report you on, but I
know that there are discussions going on within Congress and with White
House officials. I don't know who those specific people are, but if I
can update you on that, I will. There are discussions ongoing,
including with Senator Daschle.
Q Including White House officials?
MR. MCCLELLAN: I'll have to double-check that to make sure Jean.
I don't have the latest information.
Q On the homeland security bill, is it the case that the White
House embraces the compromise that is now floating around on Capitol
Hill? Is that, in fact, what the White House supports?
MR. MCCLELLAN: Well, again, from this podium, I don't want to get
into negotiations or compromises or anything that's being discussed
with members at this point. I think soon we will have more to say, but
we're pleased with the progress that's being made. We're pleased that
the discussions are meeting the requirements that the President
outlined that enable him to have the flexibility to enact quickly and
decisively to protect the American people.
Q You do acknowledge there's a compromise proposal?
MR. MCCLELLAN: There are discussions that are ongoing, sure.
There are discussions -- I think I would characterize it again as
that we're pleased that they're moving forward on a strong proposal
that meets many of our requirements.
Q That strong proposal, the White House is behind that?
MR. MCCLELLAN: Well, again, you're trying to get me to get into
--
Q I'm just trying to get you to say --
MR. MCCLELLAN: -- until there is a final agreement, I hesitate
to start characterizing where things stand.
Q There's a report this morning that Iraq is trying to buy
antidotes to nerve gas and other agents. What does the administration
have to say about that?
MR. MCCLELLAN: As I said earlier, I don't want to get into
discussing any specific reports based on intelligence information. But
as a general point, I would remind everybody that during the Gulf War,
there was an attempt by the Iraqi regime to acquire these kind of
materials. Certainly that is something that we would look into very
closely. And -- but I would also reiterate what I said earlier, that
we do not need any more proof that Saddam Hussein possesses and is
willing to use chemical and biological weapons. He has already used
them on his own people. And I can assure you that the Department of
Defense is going to do everything they can to protect our troops if
they are called in to disarm Saddam Hussein.
Q On Iraq, what is the President's feeling about the Iraqi
demand that the inspection team include some Arab inspectors?
MR. MCCLELLAN: I think that everything is clearly spelled out in
the resolution, and the inspectors will be making the decisions on
those teams, Dr. Blix and Dr. ElBaradei, so I would leave it at that.
Q But the exclusion of Arabs --
MR. MCCLELLAN: I don't think Iraq has a say in this. Iraq has, as
I said, one final opportunity to come into compliance and to disarm.
Q You agree that -- is there a possibility that the exclusion
of Arab inspectors might complicate the situation politically in terms
of support in the Arab world?
MR. MCCLELLAN: Well, that's kind of speculating. I'm going to
leave it up to -- we've had discussions with the inspectors, Dr. Blix
and Dr. ElBaradei. So I'm going to leave it with them, and they can
answer those questions more fully.
Q Scott, on another subject, the Denver Post reports that
former Senator Gary Hart has announced he is seriously considering
running for the presidency in 2004. And my question is, in the event
that Senator Hart's kindred spirit, President Clinton, were to campaign
for Hart, along with Chairman "Jeb Is Gone" McAuliffe, you would not
contend that President Bush would be unhappy, would you, Scott?
MR. MCCLELLAN: That's two or three hypotheticals within a
hypothetical. Look, there's going to be a lot of jockeying for the
Democratic nomination. The President's focus is on moving his agenda.
The President's focus is on the unfinished business that Congress still
needs to complete, particularly creating the department of homeland
security.
Q After the U.S. government mint's Susan B. Anthony coin failed
to win any acceptance and was discontinued, the mint spent more than
$60 million promoting another coin failure called the Sacagawea, while
the U.S. Postal Service has been paying huge sums to primetime
television to advertise the fact that they have stamps for sale. And
my question is, doesn't the President care about such outrageous
waste? And will he or will he not order it stopped?
MR. MCCLELLAN: I'm really not familiar with all that, Les. That
was a lot of information. I'm not sure even followed it all.
Q He certainly is opposed to waste.
MR. MCCLELLAN: I'm not sure I even followed it all. He's for
fiscal discipline.
Q Right, then will he discipline --
MR. MCCLELLAN: And controlling wasteful government spending. He's
made that clear. But I'm not familiar with all the details you got
into there.
Q Scott, this weekend about 100 Indian Americans demonstrated
behind the White House against the U.S. policy towards Pakistan and
supplying arms, and also at the same time, Pakistan's support for North
Korea's nuclear program, exchange with the missile technology --
according to The New York Times and Washington Post and other reports.
But at the same time this group are dedicated and determined that they
support President Bush's war against terrorism. In fact, they are
calling on the President to flush out all the terrorists from Pakistan,
including this weekend's report Osama bin Laden was still in Karachi,
Pakistan.
MR. MCCLELLAN: Well, let me go back to the Pakistan question.
Pakistan has been a part of our coalition, a strong partner in our
coalition to fight the war on terror. And we appreciate their support
in that effort. Now you're getting into a few different issues there.
Our position on North Korea has been made very clear, as well.
Q Scott, the President today used the phrase, zero tolerance,
to describe the standard he would use on Saddam. A senior official who
was briefing us from your podium last week used the phrase, a pattern
of defiance, in other words, suggesting there would have to be more
than one. Which is it?
MR. MCCLELLAN: I think in that -- I was in that briefing. I
think that the briefers made it clear that our view is one of zero
tolerance. This is a final opportunity for Saddam Hussein to comply
and disarm, and we've made that very clear. He has defied, over 11
years, 16 resolutions. This is a 17th, and this is his one final
opportunity. But we've made it very clear that we approach this with a
zero-tolerance view.
Q Can you define what zero tolerance means?
MR. MCCLELLAN: If he is in violation of the resolution, then that,
as it states in the resolution, is to be reported to the U.N. Security
Council. That is a material breach.
Q And that's any omission, that's any falsification, that's any
single --
MR. MCCLELLAN: Under the resolution, omissions and false
statements are considered a further material breach.
Q So we aren't looking for a pattern of deceit or of
obstruction. A single incident --
MR. MCCLELLAN: Well, I don't want to get in -- again, this kind
of goes back to all the "ifs" and all the hypotheticals. That's -- I
don't want to get into the speculation about that, but our view is one
of, as David asked, zero tolerance.
Q Scott, the French Foreign Minister this morning had remarks
that were strongly in support of the position that if Saddam does not
comply, that France does, in fact, back the use of military force. Do
you anticipate that the French are eventually going to come to the
position where they're willing to actually join the coalition? Have
they signaled that?
MR. MCCLELLAN: I can't speak for the French. I haven't seen those
exact remarks, so I hesitate to comment directly on them. But I think
that their vote with the rest of the international community was a
clear indication of what Saddam Hussein needs to do.
Q Tomorrow Kofi Annan is coming here. Can you give us an idea
of the specifics and what they're going to be talking about?
MR. MCCLELLAN: Well, as I understand it, he was going to be in
town. I don't have any information to preview on right now. If I can
get you more information later in the day, I will. But he was going to
be in town, and the President wanted to visit with him while he's
here.
Q Is it safe to assume that --
MR. MCCLELLAN: We'll give you an update after they've had their
meeting.
Q One more on homeland security. Doesn't the President think
that Dean Barkley is really the key to getting what he wants out of
Congress on homeland security? Isn't that why he's getting a private
sitting with the President today, whereas all of the new members who
are going to be around a lot longer are having a group --
MR. MCCLELLAN: Well, as you just mentioned, those other members
are going to be around a lot longer. They're not -- many of them
won't be sworn in for quite a while. He is already being sworn in, by
the Vice President, I might add. And he is a member of Congress
effective pretty much immediately. This is an opportunity for the
President to sit down with him and get to know him. If there's more to
report, I will. I would not rule out that homeland security might well
come up. Certainly every person -- every vote is important.
Q -- comments to that effect, that Dean Barkley is really the
key. So does the administration --
MR. MCCLELLAN: I just said, I think every vote is important. If
there is more to update you on after the meeting, I will.
Q On behalf of American citizens who want to apply to this
department of homeland security, to be part of it, is the government at
this point taking applications? Will there be new people hired, or
will they all be folded in from present federal employees?
MR. MCCLELLAN: Well, I think you have a lot of departments that
already have people in place. But you're -- it's kind of getting one
step ahead of the process here. But we are making appropriate
preparations so that this can get up running as quickly as possible
once it is passed by the United States Congress and signed by the
President.
Q When it's open to the public, will you put out some word so
that people know what they can do?
MR. MCCLELLAN: Oh, yes. There won't -- there will be plenty of
opportunity there.
Q Scott, assuming homeland security passes this lame duck
session, is there a piece of legislation that the President would like
the Congress to pass first in the next session?
MR. MCCLELLAN: Well, he outlined some of that in his remarks last
week in the news conference. I don't know whether I'd characterize
first or second or third or fourth, but he made it very clear that
there are certain priorities we need to focus on during the remainder
of this Congress, because of the limited amount of time, first being
the department of homeland security.
We also need to focus on terrorism insurance, which means job
creation and economic growth. We also need to focus on fiscal
discipline as we move forward on the appropriations process. Only two
of 13 appropriation bills have been passed at this point. Congress
needs to make sure they control ways for spending, that they have
fiscal restraint, and that they fund our priorities.
And when we return next year, there are a number of priorities that
are important. The President, at his news conference, as you know,
announced that he's going to work with Congress on a new economic
growth and jobs package, in addition to what we've already been
pushing, and making the tax cuts permanent. Moving forward on an
energy bill remains an important priority. So there are a number of
important priorities -- passing welfare reform reauthorization.
But as we get closer to the session, we'll talk more about what can
be accomplished in the next session and what our top priorities will
be. But the biggest priorities will always remain protecting the
American people and continuing to take steps to strengthen our
economy.
Q Can you just be clear on one point? If Saddam does not
accept the terms for Resolution 1441 by midnight on Friday, what
happens then?
MR. MCCLELLAN: John, I think it's very clear to Saddam Hussein,
very clear to the world what he needs to do. Clearly, that would go
against the resolution. This is -- and the President indicated
earlier -- this is a final opportunity for Saddam Hussein to disarm.
But again, we're getting into all sorts of "ifs" and all sorts of
hypotheticals, and it's clear that there are -- no more room for
games, there's no more room for cat and mouse, there's no more room for
cheat and retreat, no more deny and deceive. I mean, this is the time
for Saddam Hussein to disarm.
Q You say it's a hypothetical, but the President has clearly
addressed the situation many times, on the campaign trail and in
speeches, saying if Iraq doesn't disarm -- which is a hypothetical
-- we'll lead a coalition to disarm him. So --
Q Hypothetical coalition.
Q Hypothetical coalitions, right, as my esteemed colleague
points out. But clearly it states in the resolution that any
obstruction or failure to comply with weapons inspectors will
constitute further material breach. So what exactly happens at
midnight on Friday? Is that it, do we go to war, or do we give him
another chance?
MR. MCCLELLAN: Well, again, I think the President indicated this,
as well, earlier -- let's see what he says. But make no mistake
about it, this is a final opportunity for Saddam Hussein to disarm.
The resolution is very clear --
Q -- that's the deadline.
MR. MCCLELLAN: Well, there are several deadlines within the
resolution. There is this first seven-day deadline, then there's a
30-day deadline when he has to report what chemical and biological
weapons he may possess.
Q But if he misses the first deadline, what's the use of the
second deadline?
MR. MCCLELLAN: Well, like I said, this is a final opportunity and
he should not be playing any games and not play cat and mouse -- not
play cat and mouse with the international community.
Q That's like a resurrection from the dead, isn't it?
MR. MCCLELLAN: Let me go back to Ken.
Q When the President meets with Senator Barkley today, do you
expect the President to ask him to revisit his decision he announced
yesterday about not voting with Republicans on a reorganization --
MR. MCCLELLAN: That's really a matter for the United States Senate
to decide. That's always been their prerogative and we have not been
involved in those decisions.
Q The President isn't going to --
MR. MCCLELLAN: I would not expect that.
Q One on economic priorities for the following year. There was
reporting over the weekend that the number of tax proposals that are
likely to make it on the President's agenda next year is being winnowed
down and, for example, a capital gains cut is unlikely to make it.
Could you comment on that?
MR. MCCLELLAN: I'm not going to -- the announcement is for the
President to make when he's ready to do that. We're going to -- he
made the commitment that we're going to work with Congress on an
additional job creation and economic growth package. He remains
committed to that. The President continues to review ideas. He
continues to look at additional ideas that are out there. But he also
continues to press for the current economic growth initiatives that he
has already outlined. That means passing terrorism insurance, making
the tax cuts permanent, fiscal restraint, just to name a few.
Q Were those reports wrong that the number --
MR. MCCLELLAN: Well, you're asking me to get into something that I
think it's the place of the President to announce. That's something
that he will announce when he's ready to do so. Clearly, there is more
that we need to do. The President won't be satisfied, as he has said,
as long as there's one American worker out there who wants a job and
cannot find a job.
Q Under the zero tolerance policy, when you were asked by John
what happens Friday if Hussein does not -- says he's not going to
comply, you said, clearly that would go against the resolution. Can we
infer by that, that you're saying that would be a material breach?
MR. MCCLELLAN: I would look back at the resolution, look at the
exact language there. The resolution calls on him to acknowledge that
he will comply by this seven-day time period -- by the seven-day time
period. And the bottom line here is this is about disarmament. And
we've made it very clear he has a final opportunity to comply. And if
he does not comply, we've made it very clear what we are prepared to
do.
Q What are you prepared to do if he "goes against the
resolution" Friday and says he's not going to comply?
MR. MCCLELLAN: Well, let me make it clear, too, what the President
said last week -- that the President seeks a peaceful resolution.
But if Saddam Hussein refuses to disarm peacefully, then we intend to
disarm him. So I think it's very clear to Saddam Hussein what he needs
to do. And he should not be playing games here. And the resolution
clearly spells out what he needs to do.
Q So we'll just tell Saddam Hussein what happens --
MR. MCCLELLAN: And if there is a step that we need to go back to
the U.N. Security Council to consult and discuss, we will. But that
does not take away the authority of the President to act to protect the
American people if he determines needs to.
Q What I'm trying to get at, though, is Friday a trigger point
that would send it back to the U.N.?
MR. MCCLELLAN: I think I've addressed it, Ron.
Q Scott, I don't think you were specifically asked, what is the
reaction to the Iraqi parliament's rejection of this resolution? And
does it have any relevance in the situation right now?
MR. MCCLELLAN: As I indicated earlier, I think it is pure
political theatre. It is not up to Saddam Hussein to accept or reject
this resolution, as we've been discussing. The resolution was
unanimously passed by the United Nations Security Council. The
international community is now speaking with one voice. And the Iraq
regime is a dictatorship and it is the choice of Saddam Hussein to
determine whether he wants to disarm peacefully, or if he wants to be
disarmed by force. And that's where we are. This is a final
opportunity for him. But we'll see what he says.
Q You don't necessarily consider this a signal one way or the
other from the parliament?
MR. MCCLELLAN: Well, again, I go back to what I just said, that
the Iraqi regime is a dictatorship. This is Saddam Hussein's
decision.
Q On the domestic side, Senator Lott has indicated he intends
to take up several abortion bills this upcoming session. And there is
at least one person in the anti-abortion movement that said that it was
that vote that led to the Republican majority. Where does that sit on
the President's agenda, and how much of his political capital is he
willing to spend to get something done along those lines?
MR. MCCLELLAN: I saw some news reports. I haven't heard that
directly from Senator Lott's mouth, but I've seen the news reports.
The President's focus during this lame duck session, as it's called,
continues to be on the unfinished -- the important, highest
priorities of unfinished business that the Congress has not acted
upon. And that is creating the department of homeland security,
passing terrorism insurance, and maintaining fiscal discipline.
There are other priorities as the President outlined in his news
conference last week. And his views are very well-known on those
issues, and we continue to -- I mean, if you have specifics, I mean,
I'm happy to discuss them. But there's a limited -- there's a
limited amount of time in this lame duck session, a limited amount of
time of what we can get done.
Q More specifically, he's got two years after the lame duck
session. And is that something that he's going to -- that he feels
important and he's going to focus on and that he will push? Or is that
just some playing to the base for some people?
MR. MCCLELLAN: Again, the President's big priorities are
protecting the homeland and strengthening our economy. There are a
number of other priorities that the President supports as well, and
that we will --
Q Is it fair to say this is low on this priority list?
MR. MCCLELLAN: No, no, I wouldn't characterize that. There are
other important priorities and the President's views are very clear on
each of those priorities, as well. I mean, he's made it very clear
where he stands on each of those issues. The President believes that
we need to be a culture that welcomes life at all stages.
Q In the weeks leading up to the U.N. resolution, the President
made a lot of phone calls to heads of state of other Security
Council members. Is he maintaining those -- that sort of high level
of contact now, in this period where we're waiting to see if Iraq
actually does comply with the resolution?
MR. MCCLELLAN: Well, he's always reaching out to world leaders and
he believes in that strong personal diplomacy. He is always doing
that. If there are specific calls to update you on, we do that as they
occur. I don't have anything to update you on right now.
Q Scott, senior administration officials for the last several
weeks -- the last week, anyway -- have been saying that any
wiggling by Saddam Hussein on the resolution is -- would be
considered a material breach, in and of itself. Therefore, if he does
not meet the Friday deadline, are we going to immediately demand a
reconvening of the Security Council to discuss the serious
consequences?
MR. MCCLELLAN: I think I've pretty much addressed this question
fully. But --
Q We're not getting a straight answer out of you.
MR. MCCLELLAN: The resolution -- and look back at the
resolution; it spells out that Iraq continues to be in material breach
and it spells out what constitutes further material breach. And a
violation is a further material breach.
Q Will we demand a reconvening of the Security Council?
MR. MCCLELLAN: Again, this is getting into "ifs" and everything,
all hypotheticals. It's very clear what he needs to do. This is about
disarmament and this is a final opportunity for Saddam Hussein to
disarm. If he chooses not to do so peacefully, then the United States
is prepared to act, with our friends, to do so by force. And we will
do so forcefully and swiftly and decisively, as the President has
outlined. But the President continues to seek a peaceful resolution.
War is a last resort.
Q What's the significance of the meeting with the Chamber
people this afternoon? Is the President looking for input on this
growth package and what elements should be in there next time?
MR. MCCLELLAN: Well, we reach out to groups from across the
spectrum all the time, and we've had meetings with these people, with
these individuals before, I believe. But he will talk about -- in
his remarks to them he will talk about economic growth, he will talk
about the legislative agenda for the lame duck session, including the
department of homeland security. So it's an opportunity to continue
reaching out to people to talk about important priorities that need to
be accomplished.
Q Does he have any plans to meet with labor people?
MR. MCCLELLAN: We do meet with labor people on a regular basis.
As you know, he's had meetings with members of the Carpenters Union,
with Teamster leadership and so forth.
Q -- on the agenda.
MR. McCLELLAN: I'll update you with any meetings, as they occur,
but I don't have anything to update you on right now. But the
President is committed to reaching out across partisan lines.
Thanks.
END 1:03 P.M. EST
|